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Rutgers Gets Breathing Room Late vs. Michigan

from press release

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Led by a career-high
five goals and six total points by redshirt sophomore AScott
Klimchak (Clark, N.J.), the Rutgers men's lacrosse team bested
Michigan, 13-9, Saturday at Yurcak Field. Senior A Kevin Hover
(Belle Mead, N.J.) added his first hat trick of the season with
three goals and one assist, as the Scarlet Knights (6-8) earned the
win on Senior Night.

First-year head coach Brian Brecht's squad found itself tied
with the Wolverines (1-12) at 9-9 with 8:25 to go in the evening
contest. The RU-UM matchup featured five ties and two lead changes.
Rutgers found its offensive groove in the fourth period, pouring in
four unanswered goals to close out the victory.

Freshman A Brian Goss (Arlington Heights, Ill.) scored his
second point of the game with 7:29 left after an earlier assist.
Klimchak netted his fourth and fifth goals off feeds from sophomore
A Nick DePaolera (Kinnelon, N.J.), who finished with four points
from four assists. Senior A Jonathan Lefferts (Moorsestown, N.J.)
scored his first goal of the season on Hover's assist to set the
final score of 13-9.

"A great night for Rutgers Lacrosse," Brecht said. "Our seniors
have been great all year and they finished their careers in our
white jerseys on Yurcak Field with a big win. It was exciting to
see so many fans, youth players and alumni at the game. Our program
has a rich tradition because of our proud and very supportive
alumni. It was great having them on the sidelines for tonight's
game.

"Klimchak had a great second half shooting. I thought our first
midfield of (Will) Mangan, (Michael) Deihl, and (Brian) Goss did a
great job as they have been all year drawing slides and finding the
opening inside. Give a lot of credit to (Nick) DePaolera and Blake
Burkhart. Blake had a great second half, allowing us to have so
many more extra possessions that led to more shooting opportunities
for Klimchak and Hover."

Mangan, currently on the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, scored his
team-leading 27th goal of the season at 9:53 in the first period.
Rutgers held a 4-1 lead to start the game, with Klimchak's first
two goals and the opening score of the contest by Diehl at
13:01.

Mangan's goal in the first period was the last score of the
first half for Rutgers, setting the stage for the Scarlet Knights'
big second half. The night at Yurcak Field was additionally
highlighted by Alumni Appreciation Day. Rutgers' 1972 squad, the
first NCAA tournament team in school history, was honored at
halftime.

Klimchak scored his third goal of his career game to start RU's
third period, drawing RU within one goal of Michigan at 6-5 at
13:40. Hover notched his hat trick inside the third period with
goals at 12:39, 11:53 and 5:30 to set the score at 8-7 in favor of
Rutgers. Michigan tied the game twice before the Scarlet Knights
assumed control in the final period.

The second half was impacted by freshman M Blake Burkhart
(Newport Beach, Calif.), who won 12-of-14 faceoffs in the third and
fourth periods. Burkhart helped Rutgers keep possession by scooping
six ground balls, which tied for the team-lead with Hover. Mangan
and freshman M Joseph Nardella (Cazenovia, N,Y.) both hauled in
five ground balls.